Well cementing tool



Nov. 16, 1954 c, WARE 2,694,452

WELL CEMENTING TOOL Filed Sept. 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A IN VEN TOR.

Cecil Ware ha a w ATTORN EY Nov. 16, 1954 c. WARE 2,694,452

WELL CEMENTING TOOL Filed Sept. 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR.

CeuZ aw 52w 6 AW ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fiice 2,694,452 Patented Nov. 1.6., .1954

WELL CEMENTING TOOL Cecil 'Ware, Houston, Tex.

Application September 16,1950, Serial No.:1'85,177

6 Claims. (Cl. 166-129) This invention relates to.a well cementing tool for use in carrying out cementing. operations in oil'wells.

An object of the invention-is to provide a well cementing tool of the kind knownas a cup-type squeeze tool, which is designed for use in carrying out well cementing operations .in which cement is applied to the well bore through a circulating tube located therein.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a well .cementing tool of the character described which has by-pass means in communication with the casing above and below the tool before the same is set in the casing, whilch :by-pass "means may be closed upon setting of the tOO .A further object of the invention is to provide a well cementing tool which can be inserted inthe well casing to any desired :depth and set in the casingby appropriate manipulation and downward movement of the circulatingstring in the well.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a well cementing tool having packing of the cup type, and embodying protector means retaining the packingin 21 released condition and protecting the same from damage during movement of the tool in the well casing, and which means is releasable upon setting of the tool in the casing to permit the packing to assume a fully expanded condition.

Other objects and advantages-of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed "description, constituting a specification of thesame when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein Figure l is an'elevational view, partly in cross-section, of the upper end of the tool being lowered into the well;

Figure l-A is an elevational View, Partly in cross-section, of the lower end of the tool showing the same being lowered in to the well;

Figure 2 is an elevationalview, partly in cross-section, showing the upper end of the tool and indicating the relationship of the parts when the tool istset in the casing; and

Figure 2-A is an elevational view, partly in cross-section, showing the lower end of the tool under the same conditionsas those of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, wherein like numerals are used to designate the same parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 indicates an upper coupling or sealing coupling into the lower end of which the upper end of a-tubular member or mandrel 12 is threaded, and screwed onto the lower end of .this mandrel there is a lower coupling 14.

The upper coupling 10 also carries a circulating tube 16 threaded or otherwise secured thereto andextending downwardly through the tubular member or mandrel 12 and through the lower coupling '14.

'The circulating tube 16 is spaced inwardly of the tubular member 'or mandrel l2, and the mandrel is provided with =by-pass ports 18 beneath the upper coupling.

By-pass ports 20 are also provided in the lower coupling 14 so that, in the condition of the device as seen in. Figures '1 and l-A, fluid 'may pass from the casing above the tool through ports 18, member .12 and ports 20 into the casing below the tool, or may pass in the reverse direction through the tool.

A slip. cage 22 surrounds the upper portion of the tubular member 12, within whose upper end a bushing i thre d o pro n i d nnular own r ly facing shoulder 26. "Within "the slip cagea I P. Cone or expander .28 is .tpositioned-aabout :the.:me'rnber 12',, which expander. has anexternal upwardly sfacing :shoulder 30 engageable with the.internal-shoulder2656f*theFbushing 24 and also having annexternalidownwardly-tapering slip-engagingsurface32. The. innergsurfaee of the expander may be provided with spacedint'ernal grooves 34 and 36, for the reception'of -O-rlngs or the like to form a seal between the-expander. :and .the member :12.

Slip blocks 38 aredisposedinithe cage 522 atsuitably spaced intervals peripherally thereof and operable through suitable openings therein. The slip blockshave slotted openings40 therein through which keepers 42 in the form of bolts having enlarged heads extend, the bolts being threadably secured to the expander or slip cone 28. The slip blocks are alsoprovidedwith downwardly and inwardly tapering surfaces .38'--forming seats engageablev with slip-engaging..-surface of the expander. By this construction the slip blocks -are--'m0veablyconnected to the expander, and'theexpander may move downwardly with referencetothe slip blocks to force the same outwardly of the cage.

Slips 44 are secured to the outside's of the-slip 'blocks in any convenient manner so that they-may engage the casing 46 of the well upon outward mov'ement of the slip blocks. Friction blocks or-shoes 45 of the conventional design are provided on theslip'blocks, suitably arranged thereon and having means such assprings, .not shown, whereby the shoes are moved outwardly of the-slip cage into frictional engagement *with'fthe casing to resist longitudinal movement o'f the slip cage.

There is a ring 13'fixed on the'tubularmember 12, and engageable with an internal shoulder'15 on the-slip expander, whereby the expander is prevented from moving downwardly and prematurely setting the-slips in engagement with the casing before the tool has been positioned in the desired position. v

The lower end of the slip cage 22, is internally threaded and has a cup mandrel or sleeve 48, in the form of asleeve threaded at its upper end attached-thereto. At its lower end the cup mandrel or sleeve is externally threaded to receive the cup mandrel bushing 50 threaded thereon, which bushing maybe internally grooved, as at 51, to receive packingsuch as an'O-ring'to form a fluid seal between the bushing and the tubular member 12.

A cup ring 52 is disposed between the lower-end of the slip cage 22 and the-upper end of a spacer '56 surrounding the cup mandrel or sleeve, which. spacer at its lower end engages the cup mandrel bushing 50. This ring '52 may be internally grooved, as at 53, to receive packing such as an O-ring, forming a fluid 'seal between the ring and the cup mandrel.

A cup-type packing element 54 surrounds the spacer 56 and is held at its upper end between the cup ring 52 and a retainer 58 which surrounds the ring 52. The retainer may have a downwardly and outwardly tapering inner surface terminating in a rounded portion in engagement with the outside of the packing element, and the top of the retainer is disposed in engagement with the lower end of the slip cage 22.

The cup mandrel bushing 50 has an enlarged portion adjacent its lower end which is externally threaded for the attachment thereto of 'a releasing nut cage 60. A cup protector sleeve 62 tits over the lower-coupling 14 and over the releasing nut cage, and at its upper end fits'over the lower end of the cup packing 54 to hold the same within the confines of .the outerpe'riphery of the tool to prevent the free end of the packing from engaging the casing while the tool :is beingxinserted in the well.

The cup protector 62 is .of ,sleeveelike formation and has a longitudinal slot 63 therein for the reception of a screw 64 attached to thereleasing =nut cage to prevent detachment of the cup protectorfrom the tool, but permitting longitudinal movementof the same.

The releasing nut cage has an inwardly and downwardly tapering wall .66 forming a seat, and a.releasing nut 68 having a downwardly and outwardlyntapering wall is seated in the seat of the releasing :nut cage. The releasing nut conveniently takes the-form of a :split ring, and a set screw 69 extends through the nut @cageandenters loosely the split in the nut, to prevent rotation of the nut while allowing the same to move longitudinally.

Coarse buttress threads 70 may be provided on the interior of the releasing nut for intermeshing engagement with complementary threads 72 on the lower coupling 14. The lower coupling 14 also has an external shouldered portion 74 adapted to engage the inturned end 76 of the cup protector upon downward movement of the lower bushing, whereby the protector may be moved downwardly to release the cup packing.

Prior to inserting the tool in the well, the parts are assembled as shown in Figures 1 and l-A, with the cup packing having its lower portion depressed inwardly and held in depressed condition by insertion in the cup protector 62. This may be accomplished in any convenient manner, such as by forcing a sleeve partly over the cup packing to depress the same sufliciently to permit the cup protector to be moved upwardly over the lower end of the packing element, and subsequently removing the sleeve. In the condition of the tool seen in Figures 1 and l-A, the ports 18 in the member 12 and the ports 20 are open, so that when the tool is inserted in the casing in the well fluid may pass through the ports and through the member 12 from the casing above the tool into the casing below the tool or vice versa.

The device in the condition seen in Figures 1 and l-A may be lowered into the well on the circulating tube until the desired location is reached. During the lowering of the tool the lower end of the cup packing is enclosed by the cup protector so that it will not be damaged by contact with irregularities in the casing, and circulation of fluid through the casing can take place in the manner previously set forth.

When the tool is located at the desired depth in the casing the member 12 may be suitably rotated to disengage the buttress threads 70 of the releasing nut 68 from the threads 72 of the lower bushing 14. During such rotation of the member 12 the releasing nut is held against rotation by the set screw 69. The slip cage 22 is held against rotation with the mandrel 12 by the shoes 45 frictionally engaging the casing.

After disengagement of the lower bushing from the releasing nut the mandrel 12 is lowered to engage the upper coupling with the slip cone, forcing the latter down to move the slips outwardly into engagement with the casing to anchor the tool in the well. The downward movement of the tubular member 12 also brings the shouldered portion 74 of the lower coupling into engagement with the inturned end 76 of the cup protector, moving the latter down sutficiently to release the cup packing, which then engages the casing.

When thus set in the casing the tool is in the condition seen in Figures 2 and 2-A, the upper ports 18 being positioned inside the slip cone 28, cutting ofi circulation through the casing. Cementing or other material may then be introduced through the circulation tube into the casing below the tool, and upward pressure of fluid will tend to expand the cup packing into tight sealing engagement with the casing.

Upon completion of the cementing operation fluid may be pumped downwardly through the casing and will pass the packing element 54 flowing downwardly and returning through the circulating tube 16, to wash out any excess cement which may be left in the tubing string. The tool may then be recovered by upward movement of the string which brings the ring 13 into engagement with the internal shoulder of the expander, permitting the casing-engaging slips to retract and releasing the tool from the casing.

The tool may be employed for other operations than cementing a well, and while operations are being carried on beneath the tool the cup packing serves to form a seal against movement of fluid above the same, or before the tool is anchored in the well, operations such as washing the well may be carried out.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a well tool of simple construction, capable of certain and eflicient operation, and having means whereby damage to the cup packing by movement of the tool in the casing is effectively prevented.

While the invention is disclosed in connection with a specific embodiment of the same, it will be understood that this is intended to be illustrative only, and that numerous modifications can be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended 6 arms.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A well cementing tool comprising, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected to an operating string for movement with the string, a slip cage slidably mounted on the mandrel, casing-engaging slips carried by the cage for movement into and out of engagement with a surrounding well casing, a slip expander between the slips and the mandrel, means carried by the cage and frictionally engageable with the well casing to hold the cage in a stationary position in the casing, releasable means connecting the cage to the mandrel to hold the mandrel against longitudinal movement in the cage, said releasable means being releasable upon rotation of the man drel in the cage, said mandrel being rotatable in the cage to release said releasable means and being movable downwardly in the cage when released therefrom, means on the mandrel engageable with the expander upon downward movement of the mandrel in the cage to move the expander downwardly with the mandrel to expand the slips into gripping engagement with the well casing, a downwardly opening cup-shaped packing element carried by the cage, a sleeve-like protector movably carried by the cage and engageable over the packing element to hold the packing element out of engagement with the well casing, and means on the mandrel engageable with the protector upon downward movement of the mandrel in the cage to disengage the protector from the packing element.

2. A well cementing tool comprising, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected to an operating string for movement with the string, a slip cage surrounding and slidable longitudinally on the mandrel, casing-engaging slips carried by the cage and movable into and out of engagement with a surrounding well casing, a slip expander between the slips and mandrel and movable longitudinally of the cage in engagement with the slips to expand the slips, means carried by the cage and frictionally engageable with the well casing to hold the cage in a stationary position in the casing, a releasing nut connected to the case, said nut having inside threads, means on the mandrel having external threads engageable with the threads of the nut to hold the mandrel against longitudinal movement in the cage, said mandrel being rotatable in the cage to release said threads and being movable downwardly in the cage when released therefrom, means on the mandrel engageable with the expander to move the expander downwardly with the mandrel to expand the slips into gripping engagement with the casing to anchor the cage in the easing, a packing element carried by the cage, a protector sleeve movably carried by the cage and engageable with the packing element to hold the element out of engagement with the casing, and means on the mandrel engageable with the sleeve upon downward movement of the mandrel in the cage to disengage the sleeve from the packing element.

3. A well cementing tool comprising, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected to an operating string for movement with the string, a slip cage around and slidable longitudinally on the mandrel, casing-engaging slips carried by the slip cage and movable into and out of engagement with a surrounding well casing, a slip expander carried by the slip cage in engagement with the slips and movable longitudinally of the slip cage to expand the slips, means carried by the slip cage and frictionally engageable with the well casing to hold the slip cage in a stationary position in the casing, a releasing nut cage carried by the slip cage, a releasing nut supported by the releasing nut cage, said nut having internal threads, a coupling connected to the mandrel and having external threads engageable with the threads of the nut to hold the mandrel against longitudinal movement in the slip cage, said mandrel being rotatable in the releasing nut cage to release said threads and being movable downwardly in the releasing nut cage when released therefrom, means on the mandrel engageable with the expander to move the expander with the mandrel upon downward movement of the mandrel in the slip cage to expand the slips into gripping engagement with the casing to anchor the slip cage in the casing, a packing element carried by the slip cage, sleeve means movably carried by the slip cage and engageable with the packing element to hold the element out of contact with the casing, and means on the mandrel engageable with the sleeve means upon downward movement of the mandrel in the slip cage to release the sleeve means from the packing element.

4. A well cementing tool comprising, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected to an operating string for movement with the string, a slip cage around and slidable longitudinally on the mandrel, casing-engaging slips carried by the cage and movable into and out of engagement with a surrounding well casing, a slip expander carried by the slip cage in engagement with the slips and movable longitudinally of the slip cage to expand the slips, means carried by the slip cage and frictionally engageable with the well casing to hold the slip cage in a stationary position in the casing, a releasing nut cage carried by the slip cage, said releasing nut cage having an inside tapering seat, a releasing nut supported on the releasing nut cage and having a portion wedgingly engageable with said seat, said nut having internal threads, means on the mandrel and having external threads engageable with the threads of the nut to hold the mandrel against longitudinal movement in the slip cage, said mandrel being rotatable in the releasing nut cage to release said threads and being movable downwardly in the releasing nut cage when released therefrom, means on the mandrel engageable with the expander to move the expander downwardly upon downward movement of the mandrel in the slip cage to expand the slips into gripping engagement with the casing to anchor the slip cage in the casing, a packing element in the form of a downwardly opening resilient cup carried by the slip cage, sleeve means movably connected to the slip cage and engageable over the open end of the cup to hold the cup out of sealing contact with the casing, and means carried b the mandrel and engageable with said sleeve means upon downward movement of the mandrel in the slip cage to release the sleeve means from the cup. 5. A well cementing tool comprising, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected to an operating string for movement with the string, a slip cage around and slidable longitudinally on the mandrel, casing-engaging slips carried by the slip cage and movable into and out of engagement with a surrounding well casing, a slip expander carried by the slip cage in engagement with the slips and movable lon itudinally of the cage to expand the slips, means carried by the cage and frictionally engageable with the well casing to hold the slip cage in a stationary position in the casing, releasable means connecting the cage to the mandrel to hold the cage and mandrel against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said mandrel being rotatable in the cage to release said releasable means and being movable downwardly in the cage when released therefrom, means on the mandrel engageable with the expander to move the expander downwardly upon downward movement of the mandrel in the cage to expand the slips into gripping engagement with the casing to anchor the cage in the casing, a packing element carried by the cage, sleeve means movably carried by the slip cage and engageable with the packing element to hold said element out of sealing contact with the casing, and means carried by the mandrel engageable with the sleeve means upon downward movement of the mandrel in the cage to release the sleeve means from the packing element, said mandrel having upper and lower ports opening respectively above and below the packing element when the mandrel is connected to the cage and said upper port being closed by the expander when the mandrel is moved downwardly in the cage.

6. A well cementing tool comprising, a tubular mandrel adapted to be connected to an operating string for movement with the string, a slip cage around and slidable longitudinally on the mandrel, a casing-engaging slips carried by the slip cage and movable into and out of engagement with a surrounding well casing, a slip expander carried by the slip cage in engagement with the slips and movable longitudinally of the cage to expand the slips, means carried by the cage and frictionally engageable with the well casing to hold the slip cage in a stationary position in the casing, releasable means connecting the cage and mandrel to hold the cage and mandrel against longitudinal movement relative to each other, said mandrel being rotatable in the cage to release said releasable means and being movable downwardly relative to the cage when released therefrom, means on the mandrel engageable with the expander to move the expander downwardly upon downward movement of the handrel relative to the cage to expand the slips into gripping engagement with the casing to anchor the cage in the casing, a packing element carried by the cage and engageable with the casing to form a fluid seal therewith, sleeve means movably carried by the cage and engageable with the packing element to hold said element out of sealing engagement with the casing, said mandrel opening into the casing beneath the packing element and having a port above the packing element opening into the casing when the mandrel is connected to the cage, said port being positioned within the expander and closed thereby upon downward movement of the mandrel relative to the cage, and means on the mandrel engageable with the sleeve means upon said downward movement of the mandrel to release the sleeve means from the packing element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,080,736 Nixon et a1. May 18, 1937 2,187,482 Baker et a1. Jan. 16, 1940 2,343,075 Otis Feb. 29, 1944 2,585,706 Ware Feb. 12, 1952 

